Regarding cricket greats, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is right up there. His wicketkeeping, batting, and captaincy have all garnered recognition over the years, making him one of the rare players to have such a widespread impact. Dhoni has stunned the cricket world with his dazzling batting, calculated finishing, and astute captaincy ever since he made his debut for Team India in 2004. Yet, his modesty has left the most indelible mark on his contemporaries and supporters. The maestro has accomplished everything he set out to do in his life, but he hasn’t let any of it change his commitment to living by the book and avoiding the trappings of modern society.
Let’s look back on the five times Dhoni showed why he’s one of the most modest cricket players in history.
1. Indulging a long-lost pal
Dhoni’s visit to Kolkata was the perfect opportunity to treat an old friend, and the way he did, it exemplified his extraordinary modesty. He returned to the City of Joy and reconnected with Thomas, a tea shop owner he had known from working as a Train Ticket Inspector (TTI) at Kharagpur station before making his impact on the cricket field. He saw Thomas after a Vijay Hazare Trophy matches at Eden Gardens, and after a brief conversation, the ex-Indian captain invited him out to dinner.
2. Sleeping on the floor of the airport
To be a professional cricket player in the present day means to travel frequently. Players often need to make do with what is available when they jump about from one tour to the next and from one venue to the next. During the 2019 IPL season, Dhoni and his wife were spotted napping on the airport floor as they waited for their aircraft. With the caption, “After getting used to IPL timing, this is what happens if u have a morning flight”. He shared the photo on Instagram.
3. He once gave up his business class seat to the team manager.
When CSK’s manager K George John was travelling with the squad to prepare for the 2020 IPL season, Dhoni was so kind that he let him sit in his business class seat. The great cricketer willingly gave up his business class ticket on the flight to Dubai when he learned of George’s discomfort in economy seats due to his enormous legs.
4. Taking the train with the team
Dhoni took a train ride with his Jharkhand team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy to get to know his teammates better. It had been 13 years since he had taken the train, but with 15 spots set aside for the team, he finally made the trip from Ranchi to Kolkata. Dhoni’s presence complicated security plans, but the wicketkeeper-batsman insisted on making the trip with the team.
5. Refusing to attend the opening of the pavilion in his honor at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi
Not only was Dhoni the captain of the Indian cricket team that won the World Cup, but he was also the first major celebrity to come from the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand. As a result of his many contributions to his condition, the JSCA Stadium pavilion in Ranchi, the state capital, has been named in his honour. Before the third ODI between India and Australia in March 2019, the wicketkeeper was officially called to a ceremony to inaugurate the pavilion, but he declined the offer with good grace.
